Portable electric cigarette, cigar and pipe lighter



1964 B. ALVAREZ ETAL 3,

PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE, CIGAR AND PIPE LIGHTER Original Filed Oct. 21, 1 960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 28 l I N A 36 i MW M II' r 4/ a4 37 3/ 5 a F' 0 v v z a INVENTOR 5 ATTORNEY Jan. 21,

B. ALVAREZ ETAL 3,119,002

PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE, CIGAR AND PIPE LIGHTER Original Filed Oct. 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ATTORNIEY PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE, CIGAR AND PIPE LIGHTER 4, Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Oct. 21, 1960 ml m n i WW M $5 1 1d I 8 M n IL W H B M I f ll! 1 E I. Y E B CK/AA? |E\\ d w L Y O I l 7////// ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1964 I B. ALVAREZ ETAL 3,119,002

PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE, CIGAR AND PIPE LIGHTER Original Filed 001;. 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 //7 HM /07 1/5 I! I 32 I02 I I ll 5- .98 m8 INVENTORS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 Claims. (Cl. 219-32) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in smokers appliances or accessories, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a novel lighter which may be conveniently and effectively employed for igniting cigarettes, cigars, smoking pipes, et cetera.

This application is a division of our application Serial No. 64,191, filed October 21, 1960, entitled Portable Electric Cigarette, Cigar and Pipe Lighter.

Unlike pyrophoric lighters of the conventional type, the lighter in accordance with the invention does not require flnts, wicks, lighter fluid, and the like, for its operation, and unlike conventional electric lighters, the present lighter does not require an external source of power supply. As such, the lighter in accordance with the invention is a portable, self-contained entity which may be conveniently carried from place to place and/or used whenever required for the purpose for which it is intended.

Accordingly, one feature of the invention resides in the provision of an electric lighter having an energizable element powered by a battery carried in the case of the lighter itself, so that the lighter element may be energized by the battery whenever required by closing of an appropriate, associated switch. In the several disclosed embodiments of the invention the battery is either easily replaceable or rechargeable, so that its power sup ply is available when needed.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a removable or otherwise openable closure on the lighter casing for the lighter element, such a closure in some embodiments of the invention also functioning as or coacting with switch means for energizing the lighter element by the battery, matters being so arranged that the lighter element may be energized only when the closure is opened or removed to expose the lighter element, so that accidental or unintentional energization of the element is not possible in instances where the device is not in use and the lighter element is covered by the closure.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its etficient and dependable operation, in its convenient use, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the foregoing objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevational view, partly in ection, of the lighter in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the lighter element inverted;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on a re duced scale, showing a charging plug applied to the lighter;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view, on a reduced scale, showing a modified arrangement of the invention;

iatiastz Patented Jan. 21, 19%4 FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another modified form;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the form shown in FIGURE 6 and with the closure cap illustrated by dotted lines;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the subject shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional View of another modified form of the invention, the closure cap also being shown by dotted lines;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form;

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line i1i1 in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a vertical sectional View of another modified form of the invention, showing the same in its inoperative position;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional View, similar to that shown in FIGURE 12 but with the device in its operative position;

FIGURE 14 is a vertical sectional view of another modified embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIGURE 14 but with the closure cap shown by dotted lines;

FIGURE 16 is a wiring diagram showing one arrangement of the electrical circuit;

FIGURE 17 is a wiring diagram showing another arrangement of the circuit;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of a typical lighter, for example, that in accordance with FIGURES 1, 6, 9 or 12;

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of a typical lighter, for example, in accordance with FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 20 is a perspective view of a lighter embodying another design; and

FIGURE 21 is a perspective view of a lighter embodying still another design.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, one embodiment of the lighter in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the m reral 25 and comprises a cylindrical casing 26 of metal or other electrically conductive material, the casing having a closed bottom 27 and an open top provided with an outturned annular lip 28. The casing 26 constitutes a housing for a dry cell battery 29 which also includes a center pole 3i) provided with a contact 31, it being understood thot the upper end of the battery 29 is spaced down wardly from the upper end of the casing 26 so that the upper end portion of the casing may accommodate therein a lighter element or assembly designated generally by the numeral 32.

The lighter element or assembly 32 comprises a cylindrical jacket 33 which is formed from metal or other electrically conductive material and has mounted in one end portion thereof an insulating grid 34-. As is best shown in FIGURE 2, the grid 34 is fitted in the jacket 33 but is formed with notches 35 whereby portions of the grid between these notches provide sets of protrusions 36. A resistance wire 37 is wound around and under the protrusions 36 so that it passes in a zig-zag manner over the top of the grid, and when electric current is caused to flow through the wire 37, the latter will become heated and may be used to ignite a cigarette, cigar or pipe tobacco with which the lighter is brought in contact.

One end of the wire 37 is grounded to the jacket 33 as shown at 33, while the other end portion of the wire passes through a slot 39 in the grid 34 and is connected to a center post 4 6' in the jacket, the post 40' being centered in the jacket 33 by an insulating disc 40a and having a contact 4 1 which is insulated from the jacket. It will 1) be also noted that the grid 34 is provided with an opening 4-2 to provide an air passage around portions of the resistance wire 37 stretched over the top of the grid.

The jacket 33 is provided intermediate its ends with an annular, outwardly projecting bead 43 which is closer to the end of the jacket having the grid 34 therein than to the relatively opposite end having the contact 41. The lighter element assembly 32 is slidably and reversibly received in the upper end portion of the casing 26 and the relative dimensions of parts are such that when the assembly 32 is inserted in the jacket 26 as shown in FIG- URE 1, the contact 41 of the lighter assembly engages the contact 31 of the battery 29, thus automatically completing the electrical circuit from the battery through the post 40, through the resistance wire 37, and through the jacket 33 and casing 26 to the battery, so that the wire 37 is energized and caused to become heated. Upon removing the lighter assembly 32 from the casing 26, the electrical circuit is automatically interrupted by separation of the contacts 31, 4 1, whereupon the assembly 32 may be inserted in the casing 26 in an inverted position shown in FIGURE 3 wherein the grid 34 and wire 37 are spaced above the battery contact 31. In this inoperative position of the device, the grid 34 and resistance wire 37 are protectively enclosed by the casing 26 and, with the contact 41 disposed exteriorly as shown, accidental or unintentional energization of the resistance wire is prevented.

In FIGURE 4 the lighter element or assembly 32 has been removed from the casing 26 and a charging plug 44 inserted therein. The plug 44 is provided with a flexible conductor 45 having one wire 46 thereof connected to a center contact 47 on the plug, while the other wire 43 of the conductor is grounded to the plug and hence to the casing 26 when the plug is inserted in the latter. In such position the plug contact 47 engages the battery contact 31 and, with the conductor 45 connected to a suitable source of electric current, the battery 29 may be recharged when necessary.

FIGURE illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention wherein the casing 26a accommodates a replaceable battery 49, the casing being provided at its lower end with a removable plug or cap Stiwhereby replacement of the battery may be effected. A suitable spring 51 is interposed between the plug 59 and the lower end of the battery for urging the upper end of the latter against an inwardly projecting shoulder 52 formed in the casing 26a. The arrangement and operation of the lighter element assembly 32 is the same as already described.

FIGURES 6-8 show another modified form of the invention wherein the casing 53, containing the battery 54, which may be either a replaceable or a rechargeable battery, is provided in its upper end portion with a pair of slots 55 so that a portion of the casing between the slots forms a resiliently depressible tongue 56. The resistance wire 57 is carried by an insulating grid 58 in the casing 53 above the battery 54, the grid having an air passage 59. One end of the resistance wire 57 is connected to a center contact 69 at the underside of the grid 58 while its other end is connected to a lateral contact 61 provided on the grid 53 in spaced adjacent relation to the tongue 56 of the casing 53. When the tongue 56 is pressed inwardly to engage the contact 61, circuit through the battery and resistance wire is completed, but when pressure on the tongue is released, the tongue returns to its initial position and interrupts the flow of current through the resistance wire. A removable cap or closure 62 is provided on the casing 53 to cover the lighter element when the device is not in use, it being noted that when the cap is in position, it also covers the tongue 56 so that it cannot be accidentally or unintentionally depressed.

The modified embodiment shown in FIGURE 9 is similar to that shown in FIGURES 68 but utilizes a different switch operator which, in this instance, is in the form of a button 63 slidably positioned in a slot 64 in the casing 65. One end of the resistance wire 57 is connected as at 66 to the battery contact 31 while its other end is connected to the contact 67 on the grid 58a. The button as carries a contact element 63 which engages the contact 67 when the button is slid upwardly as indicated at 69, but is disengaged therefrom when the button is slid downwardly to break the circuit. A removable closure cap 62a is provided on the casing 65 and the lower edge 79 of this cap abuts the button 63 in the downwardly slid position of the latter, so that the button cannot be slid upwardly to close the circuit unless the cap 62a is removed.

FIGURES 10 and 11 illustrate another modified embodiment of the invention wherein the casing 71.0f the battery 72 accommodates above the battery a vertically slidab'le grid 73 carrying the resistance wire 74. The casing 71 is preferably rectangular in cross-section and the upper portion of one of its side walls is formed with an opening 75 spanned by a cross bar 76. The latter constitutes a fulcrum for a substantially tubular hinge member 77 of a closure 73, the member 77 being provided with a cam 79 which engages the upper surface of the grid 73 as shown. A pair of stop lugs 80 are provided in the casing 71 to also engage the upper surface of the grid, it being understood that when the closure 78 is swung in the direction of the arrow 31 to its closed position, the grid 73 is swung downwardly in the casing with the lugs 86) acting as fulcrum therefor. A suitable spring 821 is interposed between the battery 72 and the underside of the grid 73 to slide the latter upwardly when the closure is opened.

One end 83 of the resistance wire 74 is disposed on the grid 73 so that it constantly contacts one of the lugs 30, thus placing the wire 74 in circuit with the casing 71 of the battery 72. The center pole 34 of the battery is equipped with an extension arm 85 which pases slidably through the grid 73 and terminates at its upper end in an angulated portion 86. The other end 87 of the resistance wire is disposed on the grid 73 so that it contacts the portion 86 of the arm 85 when the grid is swung upwardly, thus completing the circuit through the battery and the resistance wire when the closure 78 is in its open position. However, when the closure is swung to its closed position, the downward swinging of the grid 73 interrupts the circuit between the wire end 83 and lug 8t and between the wire end 87 and arm portion 86 to prevent energization of the resistance wire.

Another modified form of the invention shown in FIG- URES 12 and 13 utilizes a cylindrical, metallic inner casing 88 containing a battery 89 and provided with an insulating jacket 90 which, in turn, is contained in an openended metallic outer casing 91'. The lower end of the outer casing 81 terminates short of the lower end of the inner casing 88 and jacket 89, and the upper end portion of the outer casing accommodates a grid 92 carrying the resistance wire 93. The upper end portion of the casing 91 is formed with an inturned bead or rim 94 to retain the grid in place, the underside of the grid being in abutment with the upper end of the jacket 90, as shown. One end of the resistance wire 93 is connected to the center pole 95 of the battery 89 while the other end of the resistance wire is grounded to the outer casing 91. A removable closure cap or cover 96 is positionable selectively on the upper and lower end portions of the casing 91, the cap being formed from suitable conductive material. Thus, when the cap is positioned at the lower end of the casing 91 as shown in FIGURE 13, it electrically bridges the casings 91 and 88 by contact of the cap with the bottom 38a of the casing 83. In this manner the electrical circuit through the battery and resistance wire is completed, it being noted that with the cap 96 at the lower end of the casing 91, the resistance wire 93 is exposed for use. However, when the cap 96 is positioned on the upper end of the casing 91 so as to cover the resistance wire 93 when the device is not in use, the electrical connection between the casings 88 and 91 is broken and the resistance wire is not energized.

Finally, FIGURES 14 and show another modified form of the invention utilizing a heating effect of the hot and cold junction type in place of a resistance wire. In this embodiment the casing 97 accommodates a battery 98 which is longitudinally slidable in the casing, being urged upwardly therein by a suitable spring 99 interposed between the bottom of the battery and a removable plug or cap 100 at the lower end of the casing. The upper end portion of the casing accommodates a grid 101 which is held in place by an inturned shoulder 102 at the upper end of the casing and by a set of inwardly projecting detents 103 formed in the casing at the underside of the grid. A contact bracket 104 is secured in the casing by a suitable screw 105 at a point below the lower end of the battery and provides the cold junction for an electrical conductor 106 which extends upwardly in the casing and through the grid 101 to a hot junction 107 with another conductor 108 of a dissimilar material. The latter is connected to the center pole 109 of the battery 98, having enough slack to permit sliding of the battery as aforesaid.

A switch lever 110 engages an insulating disk 111 on top of the battery 98 and has one end 112 thereof in abutment with the underside of the grid 101. The other end portion of the lever 110 is in the form of a finger-piece 112 which projects outwardly through a slot 113 formed in an inwardly oifset portion 114- of the casing 97 so that the finger-piece does not protrude outwardly beyond the periphery of the casing. The spring 99 normally retains the battery in its upwardly slid position wherein the cold junction 104 is separated from the battery and no current flows through the circuit. However, when the fingerpiece 112 is pressed downwardly, the battery 98 is slid downwardly in the casing 97 until it engages the cold junction 104, at which time current flows through the conductors 106, 108 and produces a heating effect at the hot junction 107. Suitable air passages 115 are provided in the grid 101 and a removable closure cap or cover 116 is provided on the casing 97. The cap 116 is equipped with an inwardly projecting annular shoulder 117 for abutment with the upper end of the casing 9'7 and when the cap is in position on the casing, it covers the inwardly oifset casing portion 114 so as to prevent accidental or unintentional actuation of the finger-piece 112.

FIGURE 16 schematically illustrates the wiring arrangement of the embodiments of FIGURES 1-13 wherein the switch means S representing any of the various forms of switch means used in these embodiments are connected in series with the battery B and the resistance wire R. FIGURE 17 on the other hand shows the wiring arrangement of the embodiment of FIGURES 14 and 15, wherein the switch means 104 at the cold junction are in circuit with the battery 98 and dissimilar conduc tors 106 and 108 to produce a heating effect at the hot" junction 107.

From the standpoint of design, FIGURE 18 illustrates a relatively slender, cylindrical form of the device such as may embody the mechanical structure of the invention as disclosed, while FIGURE 19 illustrates the same in the form of an elongated casing of a rectangular cross-section. FIGURE shows the device in a substantially 6 disk-shaped form suitable for carrying in a handbag, for example, while FIGURE 21 shows a desk or table embodiment of the design.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown several preferred embodiments of the invention, various other modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications may be resorted to, such as may lie within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a portable electric lighter, the combination of a casing formed from electrically conductive material and having an open end, a battery positioned in said casing and having one pole thereof in circuit therewith, a lug provided in the open end of the casing at one side thereof, a grid of insulating material positioned in the open end portion of the casing in spaced relation from said battery, said lug engaging one side portion of said grid and constituting a fulcrum therefor whereby the grid may be swung toward and away from said battery, a hinged closure for the open end of the casing, a cam element provided on the hinge of said closure and engaging said grid at a side portion thereof opposite from said lug, a compression spring interposed between said battery and said grid for biasing the latter in engagement with said cam element, said cam element being operative to swing said grid about said fulcrum toward said battery when said closure is moved to its casing closing position, a resistance element supported by said grid and having one end thereof in circuit with said casing, and a contact arm extending from the second pole of said battery through a passage formed in said grid and having an angulated extremity at its outer end, said angulated extremity electrically engaging the other end of said resistance element to complete the circuit therethrough when said closure is opened and said grid is swung outwardly by said spring but being disengaged therefrom when the grid is swung inwardly by movement of said closure to its casing closing position.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said fulcrum lug is formed from electrically conductive material and is in circuit with said casing, said first mentioned end of said resistance element electrically engaging said lug when said closure is open but being disengaged therefrom when the closure is in its casing closing position.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the hinge of said closure is engageable by said grid to provide stop means for limiting outward swinging of the grid by the action of said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,721,203 Bucknell July 16, 1929 2,030,011 MacLennan Feb. 4, 1936 2,459,656 Kirschner Jan. 18, 1949 2,676,237 Tooker Apr. 20, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 354,559 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1931 

1. IN A PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHTER, THE COMBINATION OF A CASING FORMED FROM ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL AND HAVING AN OPEN END, A BATTERY POSITIONED IN SAID CASING AND HAVING ONE POLE THEREOF IN CIRCUIT THEREWITH, A LUG PROVIDED IN THE OPEN END OF THE CASING AT ONE SIDE THEREOF, A GRID OF INSULATING MATERIAL POSITIONED IN THE OPEN END PORTION OF THE CASING IN SPACED RELATION FROM SAID BATTERY, SAID LUG ENGAGING ONE SIDE PORTION OF SAID GRID AND CONSTITUTING A FULCRUM THEREFOR WHEREBY THE GRID MAY BE SWUNG TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID BATTERY, A HINGED CLOSURE FOR THE OPEN END OF THE CASING, A CAM ELEMENT PROVIDED ON THE HINGE OF SAID CLOSURE AND ENGAGING SAID GRID AT A SIDE PORTION THEREOF OPPOSITE FROM SAID LUG, A COMPRESSION SPRING INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID BATTERY AND SAID GRID FOR BIASING THE LATTER IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CAM ELEMENT, SAID CAM ELEMENT BEING OPERATIVE TO SWING SAID GRID ABOUT SAID FULCRUM TOWARD SAID BATTERY WHEN SAID CLOSURE IS MOVED TO ITS CASING CLOSING POSITION, A RESISTANCE ELEMENT SUPPORTED BY SAID GRID AND HAVING ONE END THEREOF IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID CASING, AND A CONTACT ARM EXTENDING FROM THE SECOND POLE OF SAID BATTERY THROUGH A PASSAGE FORMED IN SAID GRID AND HAVING AN ANGULATED EXTREMITY AT ITS OUTER END, SAID ANGULATED EXTREMITY ELECTRICALLY ENGAGING THE OTHER END OF SAID RESISTANCE ELEMENT TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT THERETHROUGH WHEN SAID CLOSURE IS OPENED AND SAID GRID IS SWUNG OUTWARDLY BY SAID SPRING BUT BEING DISENGAGED THEREFROM WHEN THE GRID IS SWUNG INWARDLY BY MOVEMENT OF SAID CLOSURE TO ITS CASING CLOSING POSITION. 